COVID-19 is having a disproportionate impact on Black residents in Cuyahoga County
Although the population of Cuyahoga County is 63% white and 29% Black, Black residents make up 49% of COVID cases and 61% of COVID hospitalizations. This data is consistent with volumes of other data showing significant disparities in health based on race.
Maps of prevalence of various disorders such as heart disease and diabetes line up closely with redlining maps, showing how systematic disinvestment in communities has led to greater health issues. Many now refer to conditions like poverty as “social determinants of health,” recognizing that the majority of health drivers are related to one’s environment, not the medical care one receives.
Note:
205 of the deaths in Cuyahoga County were people who lived in Long Term Care Facilities.
Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard. Current as of 7/27/20.